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Effects of montelukast on allergic rhinitis in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis
1Department of Pediatrics, The First People's Hospital of Yongkang Yongkang 321300, Zhejiang, China.
Insights
Montelukast significantly improves allergic rhinitis (AR) symptoms in children, enhancing overall effectiveness without increasing adverse events. This meta-analysis confirms its favorable safety profile for pediatric AR treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Pharmacological Research
- Evidence-Based Medicine
Background:
- Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common condition in children, impacting quality of life.
- Current treatment options for pediatric AR require ongoing evaluation for efficacy and safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of montelukast for treating allergic rhinitis in children.
- To synthesize data from multiple studies using meta-analysis.
Main Methods:
- A meta-analysis was performed on 14 randomized controlled trials and cohort studies.
- Literature search included PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library up to June 2025.
- Data extraction and risk of bias assessment were conducted independently by two researchers.
Main Results:
- Montelukast significantly increased the total effective rate compared to non-montelukast regimens (OR=0.32, P<0.001).
- Montelukast led to a greater reduction in Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) (WMD=0.83, P=0.02).
- No significant differences were found in adverse reaction incidence, IgE levels, or eosinophil percentages between groups.
Conclusions:
- Montelukast demonstrates efficacy in improving clinical symptoms and overall treatment effectiveness for pediatric AR.
- The safety profile of montelukast in pediatric AR treatment is favorable.
- Montelukast offers a beneficial therapeutic option for managing allergic rhinitis in children.
Objective:
To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of montelukast in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR) in children through a meta-analysis.
Methods:
Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were retrieved for randomized controlled trials and cohort studies on montelukast for pediatric AR from databases inception to June 2025. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and evaluated the risk of bias. Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan5.3. Effect size was expressed as weighted mean difference (WMD) or odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI).
Result:
A total of 14 studies were included. Those treated with non-montelukast regimens were set as Group A, and those treated with montelukast were set as Group B. Meta-analysis showed that the total effective rate in group B was significantly higher than that in group A [OR=0.32 (0.20, 0.50), P<0.001]. The reduction in the Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) was significantly greater in group B [WMD=0.83 (0.13, 1.54), P=0.02]. There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups [OR=1.00 (0.71, 1.39), P=0.98]. In addition, no significant differences were observed between the two groups in immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and the percentage of eosinophils (EOS).
Conclusion:
Montelukast improves the total effective rate and clinical symptoms of pediatric AR with a favorable safety profile.
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